Summoning of Four Journalists and Conviction of Two Media Managers in Iran

In the continuation of pressures from the Islamic Republic on media professionals in Iran, four media activists have been summoned and two media managers have been convicted recently. According to the International Federation of Journalists, judicial authorities in the Islamic Republic have summoned Ehsan Badaghi, a reporter for the Faraz news site, Matin Ghafarian, the manager of the Roozaroos news channel, Elaheh Mousavi, an environmental journalist, and Hadi Kasai-Zadeh, the editor-in-chief of the 'Meydan Azadi' monthly. The main reason for summoning these media activists is reported to be their critical positions expressed on social media. On the other hand, Gholamhossein Karbaschi, the editor-in-chief of the Ham Mihan newspaper, and Farimah Sheikh Al-Islami, the manager of the Parsineh news site, have been convicted in the political and press crimes court. The International Federation of Journalists stated that Ehsan Badaghi was summoned due to the publication of news regarding the new appointment of Reza Saghati, the dismissed head of the Culture and Guidance Department of Gilan Province, in the Ministry of Culture. This international trade union also mentioned that Matin Ghafarian's summons to the prosecutor's office was due to his critical writings and his stance regarding the death of Armita Garavand, a 16-year-old girl. Elaheh Mousavi, the environmental journalist, has also been accused of 'defamation and spreading falsehoods' on social media and must appear in the criminal court of Gorgan on November 21. Hadi Kasai-Zadeh has been summoned to Branch 9 of the Culture and Media Prosecutor's Office due to a complaint from the prison organization. Additionally, Monijeh Moudan, an economic journalist, was arrested on Wednesday, November 8, and no news has been released regarding the charges, the detaining authority, or her place of detention. The arrest of journalists in Iran intensified with the onset of nationwide protests at the end of September 2022, leading to the detention of at least 73 journalists and photojournalists in the second half of last year, further jeopardizing press freedom in the past 45 years. Previously, a journalist residing in Iran told Voice of America that the Islamic Republic's expectation from the media is 'to produce propaganda bulletins' and that journalists are pressured due to 'critical analyses' under vague titles such as 'blackening.' The International Federation of Journalists has again urged the Iranian authorities to immediately release all journalists and media staff imprisoned in Iran. Anthony Bellanger, the Secretary-General of this federation, stated that Iranian officials 'always target journalists with unjust punishments' and called on the judiciary of this government to 'allow journalists to operate freely based on international documents that Iran must adhere to.' The International Federation of Journalists condemned the prison sentences for Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi, and the formation of a legal case for the two female journalists in the Tehran Culture and Media Prosecutor's Office. The UN Special Rapporteur urged the Islamic Republic to stop the widespread harassment of human rights defenders and journalists. About 200 journalists have called for the release of Elaheh Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi.